Proper debate on sugar tax needed in fight against obesity and diabetes

Updated26 June 2017 — 1:27amfirst published 25 June 2017 — 4:03pm

When think tank the Grattan Institute went public with its call for a sugar tax in Australia last year, Barnaby Joyce called the plan "bonkers mad". The inflammatory nature of the Deputy Prime Minister's words was inappropriate for the important debate surrounding sugar and public health issues such as diabetes and obesity.

The facts on sugar consumption and associated health problems are difficult to ignore. Australians consume on average 14 teaspoons of sugar a day, more than double the World Health Organisation's recommended levels for a healthy diet. Almost all of Australia's major health and medical organisations have linked high sugar consumption to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes. Indeed, more than one in every four adult Australians is obese, and one in three is overweight.

Not so sweet: Our level of sugar consumption is harming us.

Photo: Stocksy

All up, according to research from the Grattan Institute, obesity costs taxpayers about $5.3 billion a year in lost income tax, increased medical care and welfare. According to federal government data, the prevalence of diabetes has more than trebled in the adult population in the past 25 years.

Amid calls for greater taxes on what is a harmful product, and stricter controls on advertising that targets children, Mr Joyce, leader of the Nationals, chose to deride those who seek change. No doubt the 4400 sugar cane-producing enterprises that lie to the north of his NSW seat of New England, which account for 95 per cent of Australia's entire annual sugar production, have something to do with the government's policy stance. As do the powerful food and advertising industry groups that have lobbied at every step against legislative changes to do with sugar.

The Age has long been reluctant to support new taxes that increase the cost of living, but it is becoming increasingly evident that high sugar consumption is having a social, medical and economic impact on the country, particularly for our children. Almost half of all children aged between two and 16 consume a juice or soft drink sweetened with sugar every single day. Apart from associated dental problems, our childhood obesity rates are among the highest in the world.

Given the weight of evidence, The Age believes a tax on sugar should be thoroughly investigated and sensibly debated, as should greater curbs on junk food advertising that targets children. A sugar tax, as proposed by the Grattan Institute, would raise $500 million a year, which could be used to increase the $60 million a year the federal government already spends on anti-obesity programs.

We have seen how taxes on tobacco have reduced health-related issues associated with smoking. We need due consideration of whether a tax on sugar could have similar success in other areas of public health.